鱼玄机·《和新及第悼亡诗二首》（其二）英译

一枝月桂和烟秀，万树江桃带雨红。

且醉尊前休怅望，古来悲乐与今同。

Following the Rhymes of a New Graduate’s Poem Mourning the Death of His Wife (Two Poems) 

Yu Xuanji

II    

Blending with the mist, a single branch of moon cassia is graceful,

Bearing the rain, myriad river-peach trees are red.

Get drunk a while in front of your goblet stop your sad gazing,

For, since olden times, sorrow and joy have been the same as today.

1. “Cassia” is homophonous with “honor”; successful examination candidates were therefore said to have “plucked cassia” (achieved honor).   

（Jennifer Carpenter 译）

Two Verses, On Winning a Degree on Mourning

Yu Xuanji

2

A laurel branch stands out alone

distinguished in the mist;

myriad riverside peach trees

are crimson in the rain.

Drunk before the wine jar,

let me give up wishful thinking;

sorrows and joys since ancient times

are still the same today.

（Bannie Chow, Thomas Cleary 译）